Covid19 defining event for Govt

THE EDITOR: The effective and efficient way in which the Rowley government has been handling the covid19 crisis is a clear indication of the world class capability of our national leaders and technocrats.

For years to come the management of this crisis will be a choice case study in leadership training, not only in TT but beyond. It can’t get better than this.

What struck me most was not the obvious competence in handling the decision-making and implementation process of this viral tsunami, but the communication of compassion from the Prime Minister and his team.

We saw another side of our Prime Minister, his heart, that has escaped the attention of many people in our country and this tone permeated the process and cushioned the effects of the hard decisions that had to be made.

A crisis reveals the true character of leaders and this one was no exception. The PM’s example encouraged us to dig deep into our souls and by and large we found much beauty and generosity there.

Some of the actions that deserve our applause were the Government’s timely intervention and decisiveness in this crisis after Carnival, enlisting the involvement of the banks and other financial institutions in bringing relief to their customers, the provisions for the vulnerable, the reliance on moral suasion instead of the heavy hand of the law, the critical involvement of the churches and the call to prayer, the resistance to institute a state of emergency, reaching out to landlords and other creditors to ease up on their debtors, the constant communication and information to the public, and the selection of a committee to map the post-covid19 journey.

Given the above, it must never be said that we are a failed state. We are as good as any and better than many. We are a gifted and blessed people and this experience should inspire us to confidently and unitedly confront all the major challenges that persist in our multi-ethnic, multireligious, multicultural space. We will emerge bruised but we will become a better people in the end.

This is the defining event of this Government’s tenure and I wait with anticipation the sequel to Rowley’s first book, perhaps appropriately titled From Mason Hall to Covid19 and Beyond.

BOXIL CHARLES

via e-mail